Apparatus for use in the casting of metals



July 22, 1958 H. B. HALLswoRTH 2,843,895 I APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE CASTING OF METALS Filed June 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ehalfw- July 22, 1958 H. B. HALLswoRTH v 2,843,895

APPARATUS FOR usm 1N THE CASTING oFMETALs Filed June 15, 195e4 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /WMM /M July 22, 1958 f, l-LB. HALLSWORTH 2,843,895

n I APPARATUS FOR usa 1N .THE CASTING oF METALS Filed June 15, 195e 4 sheets-shea 's July 22, 1958 H. B. HALLswoRTH l APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE CASTING OF METALS Filed June 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Otlice r2,843,895" Patented July 22, 1958 APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE CASTING F METALS Henry Bertram Hallsworth, Walsall, England, assignor to Rubery, Gwen & Co. Limited, Darlaston, England, a limited liability company of Great Britain Application .lune 15, 1956, Serial No. 591,581 Claims priority, application Great Britain June 24, 1955 9 Claims. (Cl. 22-77) This invention has reference to .improved apparatus for use in the casting of metals and has for its object to provide an improved apparatus for the said purpose which is especially suited for employment in conjunction with a moulding machine as described in the specification of my pending United States patent application Serial Number 454,872, tiled September 9, 1954, in order to expedite the production of castings from the moulds prepared by the said machine.

According to the invention the improved apparatus for use in the casting of metals is characterized by a plurality of traversable moulding box receiving units, each of which is adapted to be presented in sequence at a moulding box loading station, a pouring location and a moulding `box unloading station, and each of which incorporates moulding box clamping means which is released automatically for loading and unloading purposes, but which is locked and maintained locked automatically in the clamping condition during ,the process of pouring.

According to the invention also the improved apparatus for use in the casting of metals is characterized in that the moulding box receiving units together with the moulding boxes clamped thereby are permitted to or caused to assume the tilted position as entities as the said moulding box receiving units approach the pouring location so as to facilitate the iilling of the moulding boxes by end pouring.

The `invention further resides in apparatus for use in the casting of metals substantially as will be described hereinafter.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate the invention as applied to apparatus intended to be operated in conjunction with a moulding machine as described, and illustrated in the specification of my pending United States patent appli cation Serial Number 454,872, filed September 9, 1954.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a `perspective view of the improved apparatus for use in the casting of metals,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating somewhat diagrammatically the manner of driving the casting apparatus illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a moulding box receiving unit as embodied in the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of `the moulding box receiving unit illustrated in Figure 3 showing a moulding box and the clamping means therefor inthe horizontal position,

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 but showing a.v moulding box receiving unit and the clamping means therefor in the tilted position,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section and on an enlarged scale of the means for supporting the ladle as illustrated in Figure l, and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating how the manner of supporting the ladle as shown in Figure 6 ensures that the pouring level of the molten metal in the ladle relatively to the height of the pouring holes in the .moulding boxes remains constant irrespective of the quantity of molten metal in the cradle.

In the drawings, where desirable, like numerals of reference are employed to indicate similar parts in the several views.

Accor-ding to the illustrated embodiment of the invention the improved apparatus for use in the casting of metals incorporates a wheel structure which is designated `generically by the reference numeral 10 which is braced from a central upstanding tubular post 11 by means of horizontally and radially disposed arms 101 and radially and upwardly and inwardly inclined struts 102, said `tubular post 11 being rotatably mounted in a base 111.

The outer member 193 of the wheel structure 10 is Vof channel shape in cross section and is supported on a plurality of equidistantly spaced rollers 13 which are carried by spindles 131 rotatably mounted in pedestals 14 which are sunken into the door in order to avoid tilting of the said wheel structure 10 during rotation.

Thewheel structure 10 hereinafter termed the wheel 10 is adapted to be driven by an endless cable 15 which is located :by means of forked radially projecting brackets 16 which are located between the flanges of the wheel lll saidcable 15 being crossed and then wound round a horizontally disposed pulley 17 of smaller diameter than the `wheel 1lb and which is rotatably mounted in a housing 191 of a driving unit indicated generically by the reference numeral 19 which is mounted adjacent to `the Wheel `1t).

This `driving unit 19 incorporates a base 192 on which is mounted a constant speed electric motor 193 which is adapted to drive the horizontally disposed pulley 17 aforeF said `through variable speed V-belt gearing 194 and a reduction gear 195.

The `housing 191 of the driving unit 19 is provided with ajockey roller 196 carried by a resiliently mounted arm `197 for maintaining the tension of the: cable 15 aforesaid.

.Associated with `the wheel lll in a fixed relationship is a cam track2ll which is supported by an arcuate: gantry `structure 21 in conjunction with supports 211, beams 212 and `posts 213.

`Tlhejjgneak of the cam track `2t) is located adjacent to the unloading station denoted by the reference letter A and descends :in a graded slope on either side thereof.

Turnably mounted within the upper end of the tubular post .11 is `the pivot of a horizontally disposed `counter- `balanced arm 22 within the outer and overhanging end of which isfadjustablymounted `a carrier `23' within which is `turnably .mounted a cradle 241 for a ladle 24, said cradle 241 `being provided with an upstanding portion 242 `which .is displaceably mounted within a sleeve 243 .pivotally mounted in the carrier 23. The upstanding portion 242 cooperates with a counterbalancing spring 24d located in the sleeve 243 and the trunnions by means of which the ladle is mounted `in the cradle are located so `that the action of the counterbalancing spring 244 in conjunction with the placing of the trunnions results inthe effective ,pouring height of the molten metal in the ladle 24 during pouring remaining constant relatively to the heightjof the pouring holes in the `moulding boxes irrespective of the `quantity ofthe metal in the ladle 24 -at any time, see Figure 7.

The `pouring locations may extend from the place marked B1 in Figure ljto the place marked B2.

Located adjacent to the unloading station A is a grid 251 on which the unloaded moulding boxes are stripped andthe sand shaken out.

Adjacent to the loading station designated C in Figure 1 is an endless belt conveyor 252 for feeding the moulding boxes from the moulding machine, not shown, into the space between the separated upper and lower clamping plates of the unloaded moulding box conveyor unit in register therewith. Conveniently the moulding box conveyor units are in the partially tilted position when in register with the belt conveyor 252 for facilitating loading.

The wheel is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced pairs of upstanding standards 26 each pair of which is adapted to support a moulding box receiving unit designated generically by the reference letter D.

Each moulding box receiving unit incorporates a lower clamping plate 27 which is provided at each end with a trunnion pin 272 which is vrotatably mounted in bearings carried by the relevant standard 26. Each lower clamping plate 27 is bolted to the free ended arms 281 of a U-shaped bracket 28 the connecting limb 282 of which is provided with an axial spindle 283 on which is mounted a roller 284 which cooperates with the cam track in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The free ended arms 281 of the bracket 28 to which the lower clamping plate 27 is bolted have secured thereto as by welding pairs of upstanding posts 285 the shouldered upper end portions 286 of which engage freely with holes formed in the marginal side portions of the upper clamping plate 29. Each of the shouldered portions of the posts 285 has mounted thereon -a coiled spring 30 the upper end of which abuts the underside of the upper clamping plate 29, said springs 30 tending to lift the upper clamping plate 29 away from the lower clamping plate 27.

At the centre the upper clamping plate 29 is provided horizontal edge 261 adjacent to the outer end of which is provided a projection 262 which serves as a stop and which cooperates with the presented edge of the upstanding arms 321 aforesaid in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The standards 26 are also provided with supports 263 upon which the respective lower clamping plates 27 rest when the moulding box receiving units are permitted to assume the horizontal position, see Figures 3 and 4.

The stops 262 aforesaid are located so that when the moulding box receiving units are horizontal the stops 262 bear on the upstanding arms 321 and press the said arms 321 inwardly so as to maintain the pressure exerting roller 33 free of and to the rear of the pressure plate 292 of the respective upper clamping plate 29.

The lower clamping plates 27 are provided on their upper surfaces with projections 274 which serve to pre-' vent slipping of the moulding boxes when the moulding box receiving units D are being tilted.

The centres of gravity of the moulding box receiving units D are such that the said units tend to assume the tilted position insofar as this is permitted by the coop- The moulding boxes designated by the reference letter E assembled from the half moulds received from the moulding machine according to my prior United States patent application Serial Number 454,872 led September 9, 1954 are deposited on the endless belt conveyor 252 for feeding by hand to the moulding box receiving units as they register with the loading station C in a manner to be described hereinafter.

yThe moulding boxes E after casting has been performed and a degree of cooling permitted to ensure soliditication are removed at the unloading station A and removed to the shaking out grid 251.

The cam track is developed so that the moulding box receiving units D are caused to assume the horizontal position as they approach and arrive at the unloading station A and are permitted to tilt as they approach and leave the loading station C.

Pouring is effected at the pouring locations B1, B2 by the operator who is able to swing the arm 22 from which the ladle 24 is supported as required.

Whenever a moulding box receiving unit is located at the loading station C, the stops 262 on the standards 26 maintain the pressure exerting roller 33 clear of the relevant pressure plate 292 so that the upper clamping plate 29 is lifted by the springs 30 to an extent which allows of the insertion of a molding box E between the clamping plates 27 and 29.

After a loaded moulding box receiving unit approaches the pouring location Bl-BZ the loaded moulding box receiving unit has assumed the fully tilted position under the action of gravity.

As each loaded moulding box receiving unit D approaches the maximum angle of tilt the projecting ends of the transverse locking member 322 come into contact with the horizontal top edges 261 of the pedestals 26 on which the unit is pivoted, so that the arms 321 and the transverse arm 322 cannot follow the moulding box E and clamping plates 27, 29 as they are tilted to the maximum angle of tilt. This causes relative movement to take place between the upstanding arms 321 and the transverse member 322 and the upper clamping plate 29 so that the pressure exerting roller 33 carried by the transverse member 322 rides on to the pressure plate 292 at .the centre of the upper clamping plate 29 and thereby forces the said clamping plate 29 toward the lower clamping plate 27 and so exerts a clamping pressure on the moulding box E. This clamping pressure is maintained so long as the projecting ends 323 of the transverse member 322 are in contact with the horizontal surfaces of the standards 26 which is the state which obtains whenever a moulding box receiving unit approaches and recedes from the pouring location B1-B2.

As a moulding box receiving unit approaches the loading station C the upstanding arms 321 carrying the relevant transverse locking member 322 are pressed inwardly by the stops 262 thereby causing the pressure exerting roller 33 to ride away from the pressure plate 292 so relieving the clamping pressure and permitting the upper clamping plate 29 to lift under the action of its springs 30 to permit of the ready removal of the moulding box E and casting at the unloading station A.

lt is to be understood that the invention need not necessarily be employed in conjunction with a moulding machine as described in the specification of my prior pending United States patent application Serial Number 454,872

led September 9, 1954 but may be employed in conjunction with moulding machines of other descriptions or with moulding boxes for moulds prepared in other manners than by such machines.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals comprising a traversable carrier means, a plurality of moulding box receiving means pivotally mounted on said carrier means each of which incorporates a relatively fixed and a relatively displaceable clamping element, said carasaasae rier means serving to traverse the moulding box receiving means in sequence from a moulding box loading location to a molten metal pouring location, thence to a moulding box unloading station and back to the loading location for a repetition of the cycle, means for automatically unclamping said clamping elements as an unloading location is approached and for engaging the said elements in a clamping relationship after a moulding box has been inserted therebetween and as a moulding box receiving means recedes from the loading location and means for automatically tilting the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for pouring as the said means approach the pouring location and for automatically tilting the said moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for unloading as the said moulding box receiving means recede from the pouring location and approach the unloading location.

2. Apparatus for use inthe casting of metals according to claim l in which the clamping pressure exerting means is in the form of a bridging means which is moved automatically into wedging engagement with a surface on the displaceable clamping element as the moulding box receiving means are tilted after receding from the loading location and moved automatically out of wedging engagement as the moulding box receiving means approach the unloading location after pouring.

3. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals comprising a traversable carrier means, a plurality of moulding box receiving means pivotally mounted on said carrier means each of which incorporates a relatively fixed and a relatively displaceable clamping element, said carrier means serving to traverse the moulding box receiving `means in sequence from a moulding box loading location to a molten metal pouring location, thence to a moulding box unloading station and back to the loading location for a repetition of the cycle, means tending to separate the clamping elements and a clamping pressure exerting means which automatically exerts clamping pressure on the said elements after a moulding box has been inserted therebetween and as the moulding box receiving means recede from the loading location and which automatically relieves the clamping pressure as the unloading location is approached and means for automatically tilting the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for pouring as the said means approach the pouring location and for automatically tilting the said moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for unloading as the said moulding box receiving means recede from the pouring location and approach the unloading location.

4. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals according to claim 3 in which spring means is provided which tends to move the displaceable clamping element away from the fixed clamping element.

5. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals comprising a traversable carrier means, a plurality of moulding box receiving means pivotally mounted on said carrier means each of which incorporates a relatively fixed and a relatively displaceable clamping element, said carrier means serving to traverse the moulding box receiving means in sequence from a moulding box loading location to a molten metal pouring location, thence to a moulding box unloading station and back to the loading location for a repetition of the cycle, means for automatically tilting the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for pouring as the said means approach the pouring location and for automatically tilting the said moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for unloading as the said moulding box receiving means recede from the pouring location and approach the unloading location and clamping pressure exerting means which comes into action automatically for exerting clamping pressure when the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes contained therein are tilted preparatory to pouring and which is caused auaomatically to relieve the clamping pressure upon tilting after pouring and preparatory to unloading.

6. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals comprising a traversable carrier means, a plurality of supports mounted on said carrier means, moulding box receiving means pivotally mounted on said supports each of which incorporates a relatively fixed and a relatively displaceable clamping element, said moulding box receiving means tending always to assume a horizontal position under the action of gravity and in conjunction with said supports, said carrier means serving to traverse the moulding box receiving means in sequence from a moulding box loading location to a molten metal pouring location, thence to a moulding box unloading station and back to the loading location for a repetition of the cycle, means for automatically unclamping said clamping elements as an unloading location is approached and for engaging the said elements in a clamping relationship after a moulding box has been inserted therebetween and as the moulding box receiving means recede from the loading location and means for automatically tilting the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein from the horizontal position into position for pouring as the said means approach the pouring location and for automatically tilting the said moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for unloading as the said moulding box receiving means recede from the pouring location and approach the unloading location.

7. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals comprising a traversable carrier means, a plurality of supports mounted on said carrier means, moulding box receiving means pivotally mounted on said supports each of which incorporates a relatively iixed and a relatively displaceable clamping element said moulding box receiving units tending to assume the horizontal position under the influence of gravity and in conjunction with rests associated with said supports, said carrier means serving to traverse the moulding box receiving means in sequence from a moulding box loading location to a molten metal pouring location, thence to a moulding box unloading station and back to the loading location for a repetition of the cycle, means for automatically unclamping said clamping elements as an unloading location is approached and for engaging the said elements in a clamping relationship after a moulding box has been inserted therebetween and as the moulding box receiving means recede from the loading location and roller and cam track means for automatically tilting the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for pouring as the said means approach the pouring location and for automatically tilting the said moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein into position for unloading as the said moulding box receiving means recede from the pouring location and approach the unloading location.

8. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals comprising in combination a rotatable circular carrier means, a plurality of supports arranged around the periphery of said circular carrier means, moulding box receiving means pivotally mounted on said supports each of which inf corporates a relatively iixed and a relatively displaceable clamping element, said moulding box receiving means tending to assume the horizontal position under the iniiuence of gravity and in conjunction with rest: means associated with said supports, said carrier means serving to traverse the moulding box receiving means in sequence from a moulding box loading location to a molten metal pouring location, thence to a moulding box unloading station and back to the loading location for a repetition of the cycle, means for automatically tilting the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein from the horizontal position into an inclined position for pouring as the said means approach the pouring location and for automatically tilting the said moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein from the inclined pouring position into the horizontal position for unloading as the said moulding box receiving means recede from the pouring location and approach the unloading location and clamping pressure exerting means which comes into action automatically for exerting clamping pressure when the moulding box 1H receiving means and the moulding boxes contained therein are tilted preparatory to pouring and which is caused automatically to relieve the clamping pressure upon tilting after pouring and preparatory to unloading.

9. Apparatus for use in the casting of metals comprising in combination a rotatable circular carrier means, a plurality of supports arranged around the periphery of said circular carrier means, moulding box receiving means pivotally mounted on said carrier means each of which incorporates a relatively xed and a relatively disp1aceable clamping element, said moulding box receiving means tending to assume the horizontal position under the iniluence of gravity in conjunction with rest means associated with said supports, said carrier means serving to traverse the moulding box receiving means in sequence yfrom a moulding box loading location to a molten metal pouring location, thence to a moulding box unloading station and back to the loading location for .1 repetition of the cycle, a roller associated with the fixed element of each moulding box receiving means, cam tracks with which said rollers contact as the carrier means rotates whereby the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes clamped therein are caused automatically to be tilted into position for pouring as the Cil said means approach the pouring location and are causec automatically to be tilted into position for unloading as the said moulding box receiving means recede from the pouring location and approach the unloading location, clamping pressure exerting means which comes into action automatically for exerting clamping pressure when the moulding box receiving means and the moulding boxes contained therein are tilted preparatory to pouring and Which is caused automatically to relieve the clamping pressure upon tilting after pouring and preparatory to unloading, a turnable arm concentric with said circular carrier means, a pouring ladle supported from said arm and means for maintaining constant the pouring height of said ladle.

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